This course is part of the Animals and Society Specialization

Leslie Irvine

Offered By

Animals and Society SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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This course explores animals within the context of the functional relationships that sociologists call “institutions.” We first examine the use of animals in laboratory science. We then examine the controversial transformation of animals into “livestock” and "meat." We also explore the perspectives of people committed to rejecting the construction and use of animals as food. Next, we focus on some of the roles of animals in human entertainment with particular attention to dog fighting and zoos. Finally, we investigate animal health and welfare through the lens of dilemmas in veterinary medicine and decisions in animal shelters.

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Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 2 of 3 in the

Animals and Society Specialization

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Beginner Level

Approx. 5 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

What you will learn

Describe the status of animals used in research.

Identify the trends that led to modern industrial livestock production in the United States.

Determine the most appropriate roles of zoos in modern societies.

Identify dilemmas faced by veterinarians and animal shelter workers.

Skills you will gain

Animal welfareSociological concepts

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 3 in the

Animals and Society Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 5 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.83/5 (7 Ratings)

Leslie Irvine

Professor

Sociology

2,394 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Science

In this module, you will gain familiarity with the issues that shape the use of animals in scientific research and underlie the controversy surrounding it.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 26 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

4 videos

Course Introduction Video3m

Animals in Laboratories Part I7m

Animals in Laboratories Part II7m

Animals in Laboratories Part III7m

1 reading

Optional Course Readings10m

1 practice exercise

Animals in Laboratories Quiz30m

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Agriculture

In this module, you will learn about the system through which animals are transformed into “livestock.”

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 22 min)

3 videos

The Animal-Industrial Complex Part I7m

The Animal-Industrial Complex Part II8m

To Eat or Not to Eat Animals5m

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Sport, Entertainment, and Education

In this module, you will investigate how animals are central to how humans spend their leisure time.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 30 min)

4 videos

The Meaning of Animal Sport Part I7m

The Meaning of Animal Sport Part II6m

Captivity (Pros of Zoos)7m

Captivity (Cons of Zoos)7m

1 practice exercise

Cultural and Historical Contexts Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Health and Welfare

In this module, you will examine the social worlds of veterinary medicine and animal sheltering.

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 30 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

4 videos

Animal Sheltering Part I7m

Animal Sheltering Part II8m

Veterinary Medicine Part I7m

Veterinary Medicine Part II5m

1 reading

Optional Readings10m

About the Animals and Society Specialization

Animals matter for human existence in so many ways that it is difficult to imagine the entity we call “society” without them. They figure heavily in our language, food, clothing, family structure, economy, education, entertainment, science, recreation, and other areas of social life. In this specialization, we will investigate a range of topics, many of them controversial. Although this is a sociology course, the field of human-animal studies is interdisciplinary. Many of the suggested readings come from fields outside of sociology, but this specialization emphasizes their sociological relevance throughout each course.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

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Animals and Institutions